Wingtips News and Photos

AE Team and the Color Guard from the Deer Valley Squadron attend Aviation Day at the Arizona Capital

Sunday, 01 March 2015 10:05

By Lt. Col. Pete Feltz

Aviation Day at the Capital is very important to emphasize the importance of the aviation industry to the state of Arizona. A declaration from the Governor was read indicating this day as Aviation Day. A large number of the Aviation industry were present setting up their displays and show their importance to the state economy. Our cadets presented the colors to start the meeting. Our legislators took a break from a heavy day in their sessions to assemble in the area to give their constituents an opportunity to discuss their needs in the Aviation industry. A very good lunch was served during these sessions.

We had a good number of visitors at our booth giving us an opportunity to advertise the Civil Air Patrol and all of our missions. As usual many of the visitors didn’t know about the Civil Air Patrol Illustrating the importance of our being present to familiarize the public and the legislators about Civil Air Patrol and our missions. It was a beautiful day and it appeared everyone present enjoyed the day.

Civic Leadership Academy prepares CAP cadets for future success

Monday, 23 February 2015 14:54

MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. – Twenty-four of Civil Air Patrol’s outstanding cadets are gathered in Washington, D.C., this week for the Civic Leadership Academy, part of a real-world, hands-on experience long recognized as one of America’s premier civic education activities.

Scheduled from Feb. 21-28, the weeklong academy provides CAP cadets interested in politics and careers in public service to participate in behind-the-scenes tours and briefings at the U.S. Capitol, Supreme Court, State Department, Pentagon, CIA, Arlington National Cemetery and other places of interest in the nation’s capital.

“This is not your average field trip to Washington,” said CAP National Commander Maj. Gen. Joe Vazquez. “It is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity afforded to our very best cadets, who receive a well-rounded understanding of government leadership, public service and the principles that guide our nation.”

Now in its 14th year as one of CAP’s National Cadet Special Activities, CLA allows a select group of cadets to experience the executive, judicial and legislative branches of government firsthand. It is an academically intense, interactive study of U.S. government in action, providing participants the opportunity to grow as citizens and young leaders through lessons in persuasive leadership, federal government, public service careers and American heritage.

In recognition of CLA’s outstanding academic value, the National Association of Secondary School Principals has again placed it on the National Advisory List of Contests and Activities for 2014-15. The NASSP’s National Committee on Student Contests and Activities annually evaluates the educational value and organizational structure of school-related program opportunities nationwide and recommends those worthwhile to principals, teachers, parents and students. CLA has made the organization’s National Advisory List in each of the past eight years.

In addition to a blend of lectures, seminars and assigned readings from historic and current sources, the cadets also visit the National Archives: legislative offices; and the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum, as well as the World War II, Korean War, Vietnam Veterans, Women in Military Service and Lincoln memorials. At each of these locations, they hear from VIPs who provide insights designed to deepen their understanding of government in action. Their CLA tasks culminate with a final project – a presentation on their CLA experience to their peers in their home squadrons and wings.

“This is a chance to not just learn about government, but to interact with it,” said CLA director Lt. Col. Bill Brockman, who is a founding faculty member of the academy. “Our cadets learn that individuals and small groups are often the agents for change, and they realize the power of persuasive leadership. These are two of the many powerful lessons they take home with them when they return to their communities.”

On Feb. 26, the CLA cadets will participate in CAP’s 2015 Legislative Day, where they will meet with their elected leaders on Capitol Hill. As part of the annual event, the cadets assist their region and wing commanders in briefing their representatives and senators on how CAP’s primary missions of emergency services, aerospace education and cadet programs have benefited their communities.

“Each year I’m amazed at the outstanding service the cadets provide on Legislative Day,” said Brockman. “Having articulate, squared-away cadets in uniform explain what Civil Air Patrol is about, and what our volunteers have done leaves a very favorable impression on the Hill.”

Vazquez said CLA is one of CAP’s most important activities because the 24 cadets chosen for the experience represent America’s future.

“We want these cadets to be thoughtful participants and leaders in their communities,” he said. “The principles they learn in Washington will help them do just that.”

Civil Air Patrol, the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, is a nonprofit organization with 58,000 members nationwide, operating a fleet of 550 aircraft. CAP, in its Air Force auxiliary role, performs about 85 percent of continental U.S. inland search and rescue missions as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center and is credited by the AFRCC with saving an average of 70 lives annually. Its unpaid professionals also perform homeland security, disaster relief and drug interdiction missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. The members play a leading role in aerospace education and serve as mentors to 24,000 young people currently participating in the CAP cadet programs. Performing missions for America for the past 73 years, CAP received the Congressional Gold Medal in 2014 in honor of the heroic efforts of its World War II veterans. CAP also participates in Wreaths Across America, an initiative to remember, honor and teach about the sacrifices of U.S. military veterans. Visit www.capvolunteernow.com for more information.

This air fair has developed into a major aviation and STEM event at the Buckeye air port. With the help of the Glendale Squadron Cadets and Senior Members, we had a booth in the line up of booths featuring and promoting the STEM programs and ideas. Check out the attachment and web sites enclosed for more information. We also had our Cessna 182 from Glendale on static display. The crew was kept busy most of the day doing a preflight inspection with and for an estimated 130 Boy Scouts for their Aviation Merit Badges. The SCI-TECH attachment shows the lineup of the organizations promoting the STEM ideas.

Level 1 Foundations Training Course Offered in Sedona

Monday, 09 February 2015 12:13

Verde Valley Composite Squadron in Sedona will be hosting a Level 1 Foundations training course. If you're a new Senior Member, this event will help you learn the basics of the program and get started on completing your Level 1 Training.

The training will be conducted on February 14 at the Sedona Shadows Clubhouse starting at 10am. To RSVP, contact Capt. Jean-Marie Nixon by 12 February 2015.

West-MEC is a West Valley Public School district supported by private enterprise business partners and 12 member school districts. They have 30 locations throughout the west valley and prepare high school students today for tomorrow’s careers. Aviation and Aerospace are among their priorities and one of their major schools is located at he Glendale airport and AZ CAP has been associated with them in many ways for a number of years. This new location in Buckeye is across the street from the APS, Palo Verde Nuclear Emergency Management building. APS is and has been one of the schools primary supporters.

For more information on West-MEC go to their web site at www. west-mec.org.

MAG400: Advanced Incident Command System offered in Buckeye

Friday, 30 January 2015 10:46

State Training Offering

MAG400: Advanced Incident Command System

ERMA Event #1004336

Arizona State Prison Complex - Lewis, Training Room 1

26700 S. Highway 85, Buckeye, AZ 85326

March 24th & 25th, 2015

8:00AM – 5:00PM on March 24rd

8:00AM - Noon on March 25th

* Register On-Line through ERMA at www.erma.az.gov using the above event number *

Description: This course expands upon the material covered in ICS-100 through ICS-300. ICS-400 focuses on large single-agency and complex multi-agency/multi-jurisdictional incident response. The course addresses area command and staff issues, as well as the planning, logistical, and fiscal considerations associated with complex incident management and interagency coordination. Course topics include: Command and General Staff; Deputies and assistants; Unified Command; Organizational relationships between Area Command, Unified Command, Multi Entity Coordination Systems, and Emergency Operations Centers (EOCs). Eligibility criteria: Persons expected to perform in a management capacity in an area command/complex incident environment.

Prerequisites:Successful completion of IS-700.a: NIMS, An Introduction, IS-100.b: Introduction to ICS and IS-200.b: ICS for Single Resources & Initial Action Incidents is recommended. You can find these independent study courses at http://training.fema.gov/IS. Completion of MAG300: Intermediate ICS is mandatory & is presented in classroom format. Statewide offerings of MAG300: Intermediate ICS are listed at http://www.erma.az.gov/.

Target Audience: Emergency Management staff; Local, County and State Government Units; Fire, Law Enforcement, EMS, and Hospital providers; School Staff and Administrators; Volunteer Agencies active in disaster or exercise.

Registration: It is recommended that participants enroll no later than 14 days prior to the start of the course.Enroll On-Line through ERMA at www.erma.az.gov. First time users will be required to create an account prior to enrollment. You must provide a valid email address and phone number for contact information.

Costs: Training is provided at no cost to eligible jurisdictions. DEMA will not provide any overtime, backfill, or travel-related reimbursements for this course.

Civil Air Patrol supports homeland security air-defense operations

Thursday, 22 January 2015 11:14

TUCSON, Ariz. – Members of the Arizona Wing are scheduled to take to the skies today, 10 days before Super Bowl XLIX, as part of a Continental U.S. region of NORAD air-defense exercise preparing fighters to protect the airspace around Phoenix’s University of Phoenix Stadium, site of the football championship game.

The air-defense exercise is set for this morning, terminating around 1:30 p.m., to allow inter-agency partners to practice airspace violation procedures. The exercise consists of a series of training flights conducted in coordination with the Federal Aviation Administration, Customs and Border Protection and CONR’s Western Air Defense Sector, along with the Civil Air Patrol.

Three Civil Air Patrol aircrews will be involved, with two planes serving as intercept target aircraft for an F-16 fighter from the 162nd Fighter Wing, based at Tucson International Airport. Another plane will fly “high bird,” handling communications from the ground and other aircraft.

The Arizona CAP aircrew is trained to simulate either threat or duress flights that inadvertently or purposely enter into restricted airspace, warranting the scramble of, and resultant intercept by, the U.S. Air Force fighter aircraft.

First Air Force/CONR officials have conducted exercise flights of this nature throughout the U.S. since the start of Operation Noble Eagle, the command’s response to the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.